Located in Outtrim, South Gippsland (near Leongatha), the Issan Vineyard was established in 1994 by Phillip Jones (founder of Bass Phillip Wines) and vigneron Eddy Tee. The four-hectare vineyard consists of a high-density planting (9,000 vines per hectare) of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Owners, the Tee family, have been involved in the running of the vineyard together with Bass Phillip staff since 1998. In 2010 the Tee family took over full management of the vineyard and supplied Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes to Bass Phillip until 2020.
Shashi returns to her roots in Gippsland.
Shashi began her winemaking journey at Bass Phillip Wines in 2004. During this time Shashi assisted in the processing of the Issan Vineyard fruit and became familiar with the vineyard and the special character of the site always stayed with her.
Shashi is honoured to work with the Tee family and will be making the wine from Issan from the 2021 vintage. Her winemaking always so fruit focused and full of purity. A balanced act of ripeness and natural acidity will give these wines a long life.
The 2021 Chardonnay - A white of great fruit purity. Ripe, full of lemon pith and nectarine, some texture balanced off with bright natural acidity.
Wild yeast, whole bunch pressed and fermented in old French oak, aged for 11 months in barrel (no new). Some lees stirring for texture and no malo. Unfined and unfiltered.